Living With Purpose by Matt Dobson

“Tell Me My Future” Part I

Since the beginning of civilized society man has always been interested in the future. Even now, in modern times, all of us in some way are curious about it. Either we want to know what good things are ahead for us or what trouble may be brewing. And there may be a few folks who really don’t care. However, it’s important that we are concerned about what we are presently doing and understand our performance and attitudes today can affect our future.

If things are good for us, we wonder how long it will last and we try to figure out ways to make sure of that. When things are bad and troubling, we wonder if it will always be like this. “When it rains, it pours”, as the old saying goes. So here’s the question: Who can show you your future? You have options, but only one is the right one. Do you go to God in prayer and read your Bible daily or do you read your daily horoscope? What about your zodiac signs and Sister Lydia who claims to know your future, who you are going to marry, how many kids you’ll have, and how much money you will make—all this for $19.95. If you believe in God, you also need to know horoscopes do not come from God. Quite the opposite actually.

This is a two part column because these things are important and there’s much to be said. Sorcery and fortune-telling were common place in Biblical times. Yet God forbids such practice (Deut. 18:9-13). You cannot be a true believer and seek out life answers from occults, black magic, sorcery, Ouija boards, or fortune-telling. Once you begin this practice or start depending on the daily horoscopes as your life guide it is extremely easy to become obsessed by them because Satan is powerful. Don’t be fooled by such things. Don’t open yourself up to it. And don’t treat it casually. Satan and evil forces are real and will do anything to thwart your attempts to pray to God. Satan wants to stop you from giving God the honor or revealing His will for you because God’s will for you is what is good and right (Phil. 1:6).

It may seem like harmless fun, to consult a fortune-teller. Just remember curiosity killed the cat. While you’re not a cat, your curiosity can overtake your will sometimes and lead you down unintended paths. The Bible explains we shouldn’t let curiosity lead us to get involved with demonic forces (Deut. 18:10-12). Understand demons have the abilities to tell fortunes. In Acts 16:16 it says, “…while going to pray we met a servant girl who could tell what was going to happen in the future by a demon she had. Her owner made much money from her power.” Leviticus 19:31 plainly says, “Do not ask what you should do from those who speak with bad spirits or talk to the dead. Do not seek them…I am the Lord your God.”

Fortune-telling is a real problem and real people can be pons of the devil and used by him. But be sure, when you deal with Satan and you compromise your will with him, you will pay a high price. A very high price. Curiosity with this is simply a compromise or justification to dabble with this dark practice. Compromise is a language of the devil. It’s important to know that the devil and his demons are propagators of false doctrines. 1 Timothy 4:1 says, “The Holy Spirit tells us in plain words that in the last days some people will turn away from the faith. They will listen to what is said about spirits and follow the teaching about demons.” I understand these are not comforting words for us in these tumultuous times. But we must understand what we are dealing with every day.

The Bible tells us the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Consider King Saul and what happened to him. “So Saul died for his sin against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord. He had asked a woman who spoke with spirits what he should do about his future. He did not ask the Lord. So the Lord killed him, and gave the nation to David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

Saul’s full account of consulting a medium and fortune-teller is found in 1 Samuel 28. I encourage you to read all 25 verses of the chapter. In this account, it is believed by some the dead man the medium called from the dead is not really Samuel, but a demon imitating him. Demons have this power. Satan is the master deceiver and is called the “father of lies”. Whether it was really Samuel or not, Saul went against God’s will and suffered for it. Satan is clever enough to add a very small element of truth to his deception to make you believe it. Beware and don’t fall for it! Test all things according to God’s word. Isaiah 8:19 explains you should seek God and not mediums, fortune-tellers, and wizards.

Let me finish this week’s column by saying there is no need for us to fear what’s been presented here. This message is not to place fear or doubt in your mind (these are the devil’s tools), but to tell you the pathway of positive thinking and positive living requires us to battle these things. The devil and his demons are powerless against those who trust in Jesus. If we resist the devil, he will leave us (James 4:7). There is hope! You can face tomorrow and the future because He Lives! Jesus Lives! Next week we will look at the second part of this column. Until then, prepare for the new week, go to church on Sunday, and acknowledge God in all your ways.

•       This weekly column is written by Matt Dobson. A graduate of Florida State University, Univ. of West Florida, and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, he is Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Jay, Florida and a 1LT Chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserves. Matt can be reached by email:  rmdobson@liberty.edu. He welcomes your thoughts concerning faith, belief, and Christian living. Visit the Living With Purpose website at www.living-with-purpose.org.